Water heater



Jan. 13, 1931.

H. ANHALTZER 1,789,127

WATER HEATER Filed July 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z5 r 47 49 L HENRY 4/VH/4L7'ZEE,

Jan. 13, 1931. H. ANHALTZER 1,789,127

WATER HEATER Filed July 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 13, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HENRY ANHALTZER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA WATER Application filed July 5,

This invention relates to. water heaters and, while not limited thereto, relates more particularly to a portable heater adapted to be detachably connected to a cold water faucet, and has for one of its objects the provision of a heater using electric current for a source of heat.

Another object is to provide a heater of this class having a chemical of materially higher boiling point than water for transmitting or conveying the heat to the water, whereby the water may be heated to a boiling point if desired.

A further object is to provide an automatic control for the electric current which control is operated by the water supply to said heater.

A still further object is to provide a generally improved water heater of the class described which is compact, relatively simple in construction and which will be inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through a water heater constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail elevation, partly broken away, showing the control switch.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line IIIIII of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial vertical sectional elevation with parts broken away and other parts omitted to show structural details.

Figure 5 is a similar fragmentary view taken at right angles to Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan of the body of the heater with the top of the core removed.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram illustrating the circuits used in operatin the heater.

Referring more particular y to the drawings, the letter A designates the body of the heater as a whole which has spaced walls 2 and 3. The lower end of the body is closed while the upper end is open and is provided with a flange 4. The space between the walls 2 and 3 is preferably filled with a heat insulating medium 5, such as asbestos, ashes or the like.

A conical condenser member B which is composed of spaced walls 6 and 7 and has. an

HEATER 1929. Serial N0. 375,968.

attaching flange 8 at its large end or base is secured to the upper end of the body A by bolts 9 which pass through the flanges 4 and 8. A suitable gasket 10, preferably is mounted between the flanges 4 and 8 to make a tight joint.

A water circulating core C is mounted in the body A and comprises upper and lower manifold heads 12 and 14, respectively, which are connected by a series of tubes 15 which are arranged in annular rows. The manifold heads are separated into a series of chambers or compartments by the webs or walls 16 so that the water entering and passing through said core will be compelled to flow down and up alternate ones of said tubes 15 until all of said tubes are traversed and finally will flow out through the central- 1y arranged tube 17 which is extended through the lower manifold head and projects through the bottom wall of the body A, and has a pipe with outlet spigot thereon.

Each of the tubes 15 is provided internally with a spiral bafile which completely fills the cross-section of the tubes, thereby com pelling the water to assume a spiral path and swirling motion when passing through the tubes, thus facilitating the heating thereof by forming thinner flow bodies and by the fact that the swirling motion will bring fresh water into contact with the hot tubes continuously.

A cylindrical housing 18 is mounted on the small end of the conical condenser B and serves to enclose and support control mechanism to be described.

A two-way valve 19 is mounted on the top of the housing 18 and has its inlet provided with a conduit 20 adapted to be connected to a source of water supply (not shown) such as a cold water faucet. One outlet of the valve 19 is provided with a conduit 21 extending outwardly from the heater so as to permit cold water to be drawn while the heater is connected to the source of water supply. The other outlet of the valve 19 is provided with a conduit 22 which extends downwardly into the housing 18 and. connects with a n zzle 23 which mounted on the housing 18.

is fitted on and closes the upper end of a cylindrical chamber 24.

The chamber 24 has its lower end connected with a conduit 25 which enters the space between the walls of the condenser and is directed on an angle to the vertical so as to discharge the water into said space on an angle, thereby imparting a centrifugal swirling motion to the Water entering and passing through said space.

An overflow pipe 27 leads from the top or small end of said condenser to the inlet port of the upper manifold head 12 of the core C so as to supply water to said core. The cold water passing through the condenser and then to the core C serves to maintain said condenser cool during the operation of said heater.

A plurality of lengths of insulated resistance wire 28 are mounted in flexible copper tubing 29 and coiled about the core C forming heating coils 30. The ends of the wires 28 are brazed or otherwise secured to gang contacts 31 and 32, respectively mounted at diametrically opposite points of the upper end of the core.

A pair of electric terminals 33-34 are mounted on the condenser and are adapted to be detachably connected to a source of electric current by a standard connecting plug. The terminal 33 has a lead 35 extending downwardly within the condenser and terminating in a spring contact 36 adapted to engage the gang contact 31 when the condenser and body are assembled. A second lead 37 extends from the terminal 33 to one side of a lamp 38 and a lead 39 extends from the other side of the lamp to a terminal 40. A lead 41 extends downwardly within the condenser from the terminal and terminates in a spring contact 42 adapted to engage the gang contact 32. A lead 43 extends from the terminal 40 to the fixed contact 44 of a make and break device The movable contact 45 of the make and break device is on a counterweighted, pivotally mounted lever 46 also mounted on the housing 18. The lever 46 is adapted to normally hold the contact 45 out of engagement with the contact 44.

A small shaft 47 is journaled in the side wall of the chamber 24 and has a crankarm 47 fixedly mounted on its outer end which is engaged in an opening in the counterweighted lever 46. The inner end of the shaft 47 within the chamber 24 is provided with a scoop 48 which extends into the path of the cold water stream from the nozzle 23.

A suitable shield or guard housing 49 is mounted over the make and break device to prevent accidental contact therewith by the user.

The space within the body A is preferably filled with a chemical substance 50 having a materially higher boiling point than water, such as glycerine, hydrocarbons of high boiling point, Woods metal which becomes liquid at degrees Centigrade, or any nondrying oil.

In some cases pure water or a water and chemical mixture may be used. The chemical filling in the body A surrounds the heating coils 30 and water circulating tubes 15 and serves to convey the heat to the tubes.

In case the chemicals become heated to a vaporizing degree, their vapors will rise and strike the cold walls of the condenser B and be condensed and fall back into the original body of chemical.

The housing 18 is provided with a drain tube 51 which extends down and enters the space between the walls of the body A so that any Water leaking into said housing will drain out and not interfere with the electrical connections of the apparatus. The space between the walls 2 and 3 of the body A is provided with a drain 52 at its lower end.

A suitable inlet port 55, normally closed by a plug 56, is provided through which the chemical substance 50 may be filled into the heater, and an air vent opening 57, normally closed by a plug 58 is provided to permit the escape of the air displaced by the chemical as it flows into the body of the heater. A suitable drain cock 59 is provided for draining the chemical substance from the body of the heater when desired.

In operating, after the device is assembled and the conduit 20 connected to a source of water supply and the terminals 33-34 coupled to a source of electric current, the device will remain inoperative until the water is turned on. When the water supply is turned on the inflowing water as it passes through the chamber 24 will s rike the scoop 48 and rock the shaft 47 and crank-arm 47 thereby raising the counterweighted lever 46 and engaging contacts 45 and 44 so as to complete the electric circuit to the coils 30 and light 38. As soon as the coils 30 are energized they will become heated and they will in turn heat the chemical 50 which will convey the heat and transfer it to the tubes 15 and the water passing therethrough so that a continuous supply of hot water will flow from the apparatus.

As soon as the water supply is turned off the electric circuit will be automatically broken by the counterweighted lever 46. The light 38 serves as a tell-tale light to advise the operator when the circuit is completed and also serves as a warning to notify the operator that the device is in operation if for any reason it should be forgotten.

While I have shown and described one spe cific embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited IIN) thereto since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. A water heater comprising a hollow body member closed at its lower end, a-conical condenser member mounted on the upper end of said body, a water circulating core in said body, said core comprising a manifold head at each end and a series of tubes connecting said heads, at least one electric heating element coiled about said core, means for supplying cold water to said core, a hot water outlet from said core and extending through said body, a fluid heat conveying medium in said body and surrounding said heating element and said core sodas to convey the heat from said element to said core, a make and break device in series with said heating element for controlling the circuit to said heating element and means operable by the cold water passing to said core for operating said make and break device, said means being adapted to close said device when the water is flowing to said core and to open said device when the water flow is stopped.

2. A water heater comprising a hollow body member closed at its lower end, a conical double walled condenser member mounted on the upper end of said body, a Water circulating core in said body, said core com prising a manifold head at each end and a series of tubes connecting said heads, a housing secured about said condenser, a chamber in said housing, a cold water supply conduit connected with said chamber, a cold water outlet conduit leading from said chamber to the space between said condenser walls, an ox'erflow conduit leading from the space between said condenser walls to the upper one of said manifold heads on said core, a hot water outlet conduit leading from the lower one of said manifold heads of said core and passing outwardly through said body, at least one electric heating element coiled about said core, a fluid heat conveying medium in said body and surrounding said heating element and said core so as to convey the heat from said element to said core, a make and break device in series with said heating element for controlling the circuit to said heating element, and means operable by the cold water passing to said core for operating said make and break device, said means being adapted to close said device when the water is flowing into said core and to open said device when the water flow is stopped.

3. A water heater comprising a hollow body member closed at its lower end, a conical double walled condenser member mounted on the upper end of said body, a water circulating core in said body, said core comprising a manifold head at each end and a series of tubes connecting said heads, a housing securedfabout: said fcondenser, azchanab'er in said housing; a cold-'1 waterr supply conduit l connected iwith-saidfchamber; axcoldwaten-outlet con'dtKi-t leaidingifromksaidfchamberr'to-the spacevbetweea said condenseriwalls; an overflewiconduit:leadmgsfromethetspaee 'b'etween said'z condenserf'walls ta the npper one of'saidmanifold heads-on swid cm e, a :hot iwater out let cond'uitleadingcfromthe :lvwer one of said man i-fold h eads of sadd cOre anid passingtout ward-lyxthrou-gh saidrbody; at least one'eleetric' heatingtelement coiled abou-t'sa id core; a fluid Heat i'xrsaid and sun roundinglsaid heating elementamd said: coreso asi-to'convey theiheat from'r-sa-id elementto said core, ,artelhtale --.light -in=seri'es with said heatingrelement; a make'an'd-brreak device in series with said lieatingrelement-z and said light; and means incltl'dirrgfa pivotedscoop mounted in said" chamber: above: said! con denser and actuated by the cold waterrpassingthrough said condenser for. operating S3.i(l' make and breas'k 'devicegsaid means: being adapted: to 'close said device: when the: water is flowingqthrough saidioha-mber and to open saididevice wlfenthewateriflow is stopped.

45-; A, waterheater comprising ahollowdoublewvalledbody member closedatiits-lower end,v a conical double walledzcondenseri mem-- beta-mounted on' the upperrend of said; body, a water circulating core' in said body, said core' comprising-a manifoldheadeatrea'ch end and; a series of: tubes-connecting. said: heads, a spiral baiflle mounted in? eacli of: said tubesandservinglto cause-:tlie;.water=-to--flow-in' a spiral I path through: said tubes,- at least" one electric" heating; element coiled; about: saidcore; means: for supplyingicoldiwaten to said core, :11 hot-.wateroutlet from said core-and extending t-hroughsaxid :body; aafiuid ihea-t conveyingr-medium in' said b0dy;and-surrounding said heating element" and said-score; so as to convey" the heat from saidi element: to said core, a: make and-break device-imseries-with said heating 1 elementfor controlling the-- ci rcuit'tosaid heating element and means'open abl'e'iby; the cold water' passingrto said I core for operating said maker and break-' device, said nreans being 'adapted tdclose said device when the water is flowing to said core andito stop: said device whenthe water flow is stopped.

5'1 Al" water-"heater? com rising a hollow double walled body mem er closed at its lower end, said body having the space between its walls filled with heat insulating material, a conical double walled condenser member mounted on the upper end of said body, a water circulating core in said body, said core comprising a manifold head at each end and a series of tubes connecting said heads, a spiral baflle in each of said tubes, a chamber member mounted on the upper end of said condenser, a cold water supply conduit connected with the upper end of said chamber,

a cold water outlet conduit leading from said chamber to the space between said condenser walls, said outlet conduit entering the space between said condenser walls on an angle inclined to the vertical so as to impart a centrifugal motion to the water entering said space, an overflow conduit leading from the space between said condenser walls to the upper one of said manifold heads of said core, a hot water outlet conduit leading from the lower one of said manifold heads of said core and passing outwardly through said body, at least one electric heating element coiled about said core, a fluid heat conveying medium in said body and surrounding said heating element and said core so as to convey the heat from said elementto said core, a make and break device in series 'with said heating element for controlling the circuit to said heating element, and means operable by the cold water passing through said chamber for operating said make and break device,'said means being adapted to close said device when the water is flowing to said core and to open said device when the water flow is stopped.

6. A water heater comprising a hollow body member closed at its lower end, a condenser, member mounted on the upper end of said body, means for admitting the water to be heated to said condenser to preheat said water, a water circulating core in said body, said core comprising a manifold head at each end and a series of tubes connecting said heads, means for delivering the preheated water from said condenser to said water circulating core, at least one electric heating element coiled about said core, a hot water outlet from said core, a fluid heat conveying medium in said body and surrounding said heating element and said core so as to convey the heat from said element to said core, a make and break device in series with said heating element for controlling the circuit to said heating element, and means operable by the cold water passing to said condenser for operating said make and break device, said means being adapted to close said device when the water is flowing into said condenser and to open said device when the water flow is stopped.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y HENRY ANHALTZER. 

